The Call for Stewardship

Copiague, NY, December 08, 2006 --(PR.com)-- The game: humanity’s place in the world. The stakes: our potential prosperity, and maybe even our very survival. So say many individuals around the world who believe that the unmonitored, often indifferent actions of humans threaten the health of our species, as well as that of the earth itself. So how do we win? The call of the passionate players is clear: develop and maintain responsible stewardship of the world around us.

The ardent among us point to the extremity of influence of humans as having a directly negative effect upon the global ecosystem. For example, according to a study released in the journal Science, up to 47 percent of known plant species may be facing imminent extinction - mostly due to the conversion of forests, wetlands, and the like to croplands or pasture. In turn, animal species dependent on these threatened areas will themselves come upon dire times. From there, the theory of the interdependency of species acts as a sort of “six degrees of separation” between humankind and final destiny. That is, the flora and fauna that we are destroying support human life, either directly or indirectly.

Of course, there is a dissenting opinion. Many people hold that the extinction of species is a purely natural process to which humans are more subject than cause. Those stationed very far on that side of the fence believe that there is no cause for alarm whatsoever, because thousands of species went extinct before the arrival of humans. It is something that is beyond human influence.

People a bit closer to center argue that the jury is still out as to the effects our activities have on other species. They advocate a patient, wait-and-see approach, fearing over-reaction.

However, it seems that the balance of opinion is swinging toward some form of action, even if it is on a more subdued, individual level.

“The reality is that we simply do not know the depths of human influence upon the natural world,” says Michael Rasco, owner of UtopiaBirdHouses.com, a web-based wild bird store. “Nevertheless, we know we have an effect on the world around us, and we know we have the ability to change that effect dynamically - this should create in us a sense of responsibility. We can help.”

Again, we are faced with that all-important question: how? The answer may be one supported by individuals and establishments like UtopiaBirdHouses.com. It begins with a small step toward stewardship. Put up a purple martin house, plant a tree, recycle, or buy organic products; every little thing helps.

Another method of stewardship is “by enforcing and strengthening environmental laws,” which is an ideal written into the mission statement of Earthjustice.org. Earthjustice is a not-for-profit public interest law firm whose website allows individuals the opportunity to sign petitions and attach their names to letters to be sent to Capitol Hill, or to local governmental offices.

Essentially, the point of view of the stewardship movement is simply that doing something is better than standing idly by - that diligence is far more desirable than indifference. As with all things, time will surely tell.

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